DOC SAVAGE
Program Number Nine
"The Sinister Sleep"
(Adapted from DOC SAVAGE MAGAZINE)
CAST
DOC SAVAGE................Deep, cultured voice.
MONK......................Small, almost ludicrously falsetto voice.
COLLINS...................Harsh or coarse voice.
JERRY.....................Pleasant feminine voice.
BIZ:
1--Low-throated bird whistle trilling.
2--Footsteps.
3--Door slam.
4--Rattle of door knob.
5--Blows.
Playing Time: 14 minutes.
Script by: Lester Dent (Kenneth Robeson)
EFFECT: (LOW THROATED BIRD WHISTLE TRILLING)
BIZ: (DOOR-SLAM)
COLLINS: You are Doc Savage?
DOC: That is right.
COLLINS: I have come a great distance to see you, Mr. Savage.
DOC: Just who are you?
COLLINS: Collins is my name... Jerry Collins. Tell me, Mr. Savage, is it true
that you help other people out of trouble?
DOC: In a way, it is true, yes. But of course it depends on whether the
fellow in trouble has it coming to him or not.
COLLINS: Then you'll help me. I know you will. I am in the most frightful
trouble. Even my life is in danger.
DOC: Suppose you tell me about this difficulty of yours, Collins.
COLLINS: It is hideous, Mr. Savage. It is almost unbelievable. But it is true,
every word of it. I swear it is.
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, you are listening to another of those exciting
incidents from the life of Doc Savage, presented through the courtesy
of Cystex, spelled C-Y-S-T-E-X.
(PLUG)
Now, we return you to Doc Savage, the man of bronze.
EFFECT: (PAUSE)
DOC: Go ahead with your story, Collins.
COLLINS: Very well, Mr. Savage.
DOC: Wait You came here to see me?
COLLINS: Yes. To ask your help.
DOC: Continue.
COLLINS: As I told you when I first came in, my names is Collins, Jerry
Collins. I am a chemist.
DOC: (THOUGHTFULLY) Jerry Collins chemist... Say, I believe I have heard
of you.
COLLINS: You might have. My name was in the newspapers a few days ago.
DOC: Specialist in toxic gases, aren't you?
COLLINS: Yes.
DOC: The newspaper story I saw, Collins, said you had developed a new type
of gas.
COLLINS: Artificial sleep.
DOC: What?
COLLINS: Artificial sleep. That's what I call the stuff, because it puts you
to sleep when you inhale it.
DOC: Many anesthetics do that.
COLLINS: This gas is different, Mr. Savage. It works in a very subtle fashion.
DOC: Just what do you mean by subtle?
COLLINS: It sneaks up on you. You can't see my artificial sleep, or smell it.
You just simply feel sleepy and tumble over.
DOC: How about when you wake up?
COLLINS: There's no bad effects. You know you've been asleep, of course. But
there's no nausea or headache.
DOC: Remarkable.
COLLINS: Well... a little unusual.
DOC: You said you needed help, Collins.
COLLINS: I do.
DOC: What is your trouble?
COLLINS: You can realize what a valuable weapon this artificial sleep would be
to a gang of thieves, Mr. Savage.
DOC: Can the stuff be released well, in a bank for instance, without
attracting attention?
COLLINS: Easily.
DOC: How?
COLLINS: By merely pouring the liquid form of the gas on the floor, where it
vaporizes instantly, or almost instantly.
DOC: And it would overcome the bank employees.
COLLINS: It would. They'd never know what was happening.
DOC: Yes but what about the fellow who was using your artificial sleep?
COLLINS: That's what makes the stuff so effective--the very simplicity of the
protecting mask. You see, all that is necessary is to breathe through
a chemically treated filter. This filter can be made small enough to
be held in the mouth, out of sight. The nostrils would have to be
plugged, of course.
DOC: Just what kind of a thing is this filter?
COLLINS: It's very simple, Mr. Savage. A wad of cotton soaked with certain
chemicals would serve the purpose.
DOC: I see. Yes, Collins, your gas would be invaluable to a crook.
COLLINS: A gang of thieves are trying to get it.
DOC: I thought that was what you were leading up to.
COLLINS: Let me roll up my sleeve. (PAUSE)... Look.
DOC: A bullet wound in your arm!
COLLINS: It's not serious, I'm glad to say. You see, these crooks attacked me.
Although I managed to escape, I was shot in the arm.
DOC: They wanted the gas formula?
COLLINS: Naturally.
DOC: I gather that they haven't gotten it yet.
COLLINS: Not much, they haven't... Oh, listen!
BIZ: (SLOW, DISTANT FOOTSTEPS)
COLLINS: Someone is coming!
DOC: It's one of my assistants, Monk Mayfair.
COLLINS: How can you tell? It may be one of that gang of thieves after the
artificial sleep formula.
BIZ: (SLOW FOOTSTEPS COMING NEARER MIKE)
DOC: That's Monk, all right. You see, Monk weighs two hundred and sixty
pounds and is built like a gorilla. He has a way of putting his feet
down that I would know anywhere.
BIZ: (DOOR SLAM)
MONK: Hello, Doc.
DOC: Hello, Monk. Mr. Collins, this is Monk Mayfair. Monk, Mr. Collins is
a chemist who has invented a gas that puts people to sleep without
their knowing it. A bunch of crooks are trying to get hold of it, and
Collins wants our help.
MONK: He came to the right place. If anybody can help him, Doc, you can.
COLLINS: I'm worried, gentlemen. Those rascals will do anything to get that
gas formula. I'm afraid they followed me here.
DOC: Monk, suppose you go outside and keep an eye open for suspicious
strangers.
MONK: Sure, Doc. I'll go out right now.
BIZ: (DOOR SLAM)
COLLINS: Say, that fellow Monk looks more like a gorilla than any man I ever
saw.
DOC: Monk's looks are deceiving, Collins. Monk is a chemist himself, one
of the best.
COLLINS: Having him on guard relieves my mind.
DOC: Collins, do you mind answering a question or two?
COLLINS: Of course not.
DOC: Is your gas a lachrymator?
COLLINS: A what?
DOC: A lachrymator... L-A-C-H-R-Y-M-A-T-O-R.
COLLINS: Oh, I must be getting a little hard of hearing.
DOC: Your gas belongs to that classification, eh?
COLLINS: Yes, to an extent.
DOC: To how much of an extent?
COLLINS: To quite a degree. You see, Mr. Savage, I will explain all about my
artificial sleep when the package I sent you arrives.
DOC: Package?
COLLINS: Yes. I mailed it just after the thieves attacked me.
DOC: What is in the package?
COLLINS: A container of my gas, and the formula for its mixing.
DOC: What was the idea?
COLLINS: I mailed the gas and the formula to you because I wanted it in safe
hands. You see, this package holds the only sample of the gas and the
only copy of the formula in existence.
DOC: When should it arrive?
COLLINS: I was hoping it had arrived already.
DOC: Let's see... nine o'clock... the mail is just about due.
BIZ: (DOOR SLAM)
MONK: Doc.
DOC: Yes, Monk.
MONK: Mail is out here.
DOC: Any packages?
MONK: Yeah that's why I called you. There's one. It's marked important and
rush.
DOC: Let's have it.
MONK: Here you are.
DOC: Thanks.
MONK: Want me to stay outside, Doc?
DOC: Yes, Monk. Watch out for a storm.
MONK: Watch out for a storm... I getcha, Doc. Okay. I'll go out.
BIZ: (DOOR SLAM)
COLLINS: Let's see that package. (PAUSE) Yes. This is it. See, my return
address is in the corner.
DOC: So it is.
COLLINS: Hm-m-m... The package... very nice.
DOC: Well, let's--
COLLINS: (INTERRUPTS) Get back, Savage!
DOC: What's the idea of pulling a gun on me, Collins?
COLLINS: You're not the bright guy you're cracked up to be, Savage.
DOC: Put that gun down, Collins.
COLLINS: Yes, I will! I'll put a bullet in you if you move. And don't try to
call that ape outside, either.
DOC: Where are you going with that package?
COLLINS: Far, far, away, and don't you forget it.
DOC: You're not Collins.
COLLINS: Of course I'm not Collins. Say, Savage, do you really want to know
who I am?
DOC: It might be interesting.
COLLINS: I'm one of those bold bad thieves I was telling you about.
DOC: I see.
COLLINS: In other words, wise guy, I came here and told you a fancy yarn about
me being Collins so I could get this package when it came in. I knew
the real Collins had mailed it.
DOC: Where is the real Collins?
COLLINS: I dunno, and I ain't worried. Stand still!
DOC: You're going out the back way, eh?
COLLINS: Yeah... with the package. Stay back, you!
EFFECT: (PAUSE)
BIZ: (DOOR SLAM) (FOOTSTEPS) (RATTLE OF DOOR KNOB)
DOC: (DISGUSTED) He locked the door. I'll have to go around.
BIZ: (RAPID FOOTSTEPS) (DOOR SLAM) (RAPID FOOTSTEPS FOR A TIME, WITH
PAUSES AS IF DOC HAS STOPPED TO LOOK ABOUT)
DOC: Monk! (PAUSE)... Hm-m-m. No sign of Monk. I wonder if some of the
fake Collins' gang could have jumped him? (PAUSE)... No sign of
Collins, either. Well, I'll try this alley.
BIZ: (FOOTSTEPS)
DOC: (SHARPLY) Say, what--
JERRY: Don't move!
DOC: Put that gun away!
BIZ: (STRUGGLE)
JERRY: (SCREAMS) Oh-h-h! You hurt my arm.
DOC: Jumping out of alleys and pointing guns at people is a bad habit,
young lady. I'll just keep this revolver.
JERRY: You'll regret this!
DOC: Just who are you, young lady?
JERRY: Collins... Jerebella Collins. I prefer Jerry Collins.
DOC: Jerry Collins... you! This is a surprise.
JERRY: I imagine.
DOC: A man came into my office a few minutes ago and said he was Jerry
Collins.
JERRY: He... he what?
DOC: He was lying, of course, because he pulled a gun on me, grabbed up a
package and fled.
JERRY: Was it my package... the one I mailed you?
DOC: It was.
JERRY: And he got away with it?
DOC: So far, yes.
JERRY: That is bad, bad. It held some of my artificial sleep, and the
formula.
DOC: I know what it held.
JERRY: That man told you?
DOC: He did. Who was he?
JERRY: One of the crooks after the gas. He should have a bullet hole in his
arm. He got that the last time he tried to hold me up.
DOC: He had the bullet hole, all right. Know his name?
JERRY: No.
DOC: Why did you jump me?
JERRY: Why, I saw this man run out of your place carrying my package. He
came from the side door. I started after him, then you came out, and
I ducked into the alley.
DOC: I still don't see why you should attempt to hold me up with this gun.
JERRY: Well, that man had the package. I naturally supposed you had given it
to him. I was going to make you get it back.
DOC: You recognized me?
JERRY: I've seen your picture in the newspapers numerous times.
DOC: This man, this fake Collins... wasn't he walking as if he were
fleeing?
JERRY: Not at all. He was not running.
DOC: We should give him credit. He was smart enough not to attract
attention by hurrying.
JERRY: He was smart, all right. He got away with the package.
DOC: He did manage that neatly.
JERRY: Mr. Savage, this is a horrible thing. With that gas, those crooks can
walk right into the United States treasury and out again, if they
want to.
DOC: Don't worry too much about it, Collins.
JERRY: Worry! I can't help it.
DOC: This fellow was smart but not quite smart enough.
JERRY: I don't understand.
DOC: Which way did he go when you saw him?
JERRY: Down that alley across the street.
DOC: Come on.
BIZ: (FOOTSTEPS)
JERRY: Where are you going?
DOC: To inspect that alley.
BIZ: (FOOTSTEPS)
JERRY: There's an open door. It seems to lead into a warehouse.
DOC: Yes. (CALLS) Monk!
EFFECT: (PAUSE)
JERRY: Who are you calling?
DOC: Monk, one of my assistants. (CALLS) Monk! (PAUSE) He was to follow
our fake Collins. (CALLS) Monk! (PAUSE) Well, Monk does not seem to
be in here. We'll go on.
BIZ: (FOOTSTEPS AND HOLD UNTIL CUE TO CUT)
JERRY: You suspected the fake Collins?
DOC: I did.
JERRY: He gave himself away, eh?
DOC: In a way.
JERRY: How?
DOC: I asked him if the gas belonged to the lachrymator class, and he said
it did to an extent.
JERRY: But that is impossible. Lachrymators are tear gases. My artificial
sleep certainly isn't a tear gas.
DOC: Of course not. That's how this other fellow gave himself away. He
didn't even know what the word meant, and a chemist should have
known.
JERRY: Listen!
BIZ: (DISTANT BLOWS) (CUT FOOTSTEPS)
MONK: (IN DISTANCE) Behave, you mug, or I'll pull your ears off.
DOC: That's Monk.
MONK: (IN DISTANCE) Come on, come on, you bum, before I poke you again.
DOC: Sounds as if Monk has company.
BIZ: (FOOTSTEPS COMING NEAR MIKE AND HOLD UNTIL CUE TO CUT)
MONK: (APPROACHING MIKE) Try to get away with that package, will you, you
tramp. Walk along there before I land on you again. (PAUSE) (NEAR
MIKE) Here he is, Doc.
DOC: You got him, eh?
MONK: Sure. It was a cinch. I saw him go into the alley and ran around and
cut him off at the other end. He was lookinĠ back when I grabbed 'im.
COLLINS: Leggo me, you overgrown monkey.
MONK: For that--
BIZ: (BLOW)
COLLINS: (GROANS) Ow-w-w-w!
MONK: Boy, do I like to hammer on this egg. He's soft and easy on the
fists. See, it doesn't hurt me at all!
BIZ: (BLOW)
COLLINS: (GROANS) Ow-w-w-w! Make 'im quit that!
JERRY: You got my package?
MONK: Yours?
DOC: This is the real Collins, Monk.
MONK: She is!
DOC: Yes. This other fellow merely pretended to be Collins in order to get
hold of that gas formula.
MONK: Well, here's the package.
JERRY: Mr. Savage, you keep this.
DOC: What do you want me to do with it?
JERRY: Well... turn it over to the surgical profession. You see, I developed
the stuff as anesthetic for surgeons to use before operating.
DOC: The stuff should be an improvement over the common anesthetics, at
that.
MONK: What about this fake Collins?
DOC: We'll take care of him.
MONK: Okay, Doc. I'll take him back to the office. Get along, you.
COLLINS: Listen, Monk, or whatever they call you, tell me one thing, will you?
MONK: Tell you what?
COLLINS: When did Doc Savage tip you off to follow me?
MONK: (LAUGHS) Ha, ha! Remember when Doc said, "watch out for a storm?"
COLLINS: Watch out for a storm--yeah, I remember.
MONK: Doc and me has got a bunch of code sentences. That particular one
means that Doc expects trouble from whoever he's talkin' to, and also
means to stick around and be ready to lend a hand.
COLLINS: Aw... nuts.
ANNOUNCER: Next week at this same time, ladies and gentlemen, Cystex will bring
you another fifteen minutes of dramatic incident from the career of
Doc Savage.
(PLUG)
Cystex is presenting these Doc Savage dramas with the special
permission of Street and Smith, copyright owners of Doc Savage
Magazine.